Borussia Dortmund goalkeeping coach: Gregor Kobel was my preferred target from the start

Borussia Dortmund goalkeeping coach Matthias Kleinsteiber has said that Gregor Kobel was his first-choice target in the summer transfer window.

Gregor Kobel joined Borussia Dortmund in the summer from VfB Stuttgart for a fee of 15 million euros. The move raised a few eyebrows then, but the Swiss shot stopper has managed to prove his doubters wrong in the first half of the season. Kobel has slotted in seamlessly, and was one of the team’s top performers during the hinrunde.

Borussia Dortmund goalkeeping coach Matthias Kleinsteiber has heaped praise on Gregor Kobel. In an interview with Ruhr Nachrichten, Kleinsteiber said that he has been very satisfied with 24 year old’s performances since his summer move from Stuttgart.

"“In Marwin and Roman we have two first-class goalkeepers, but we wanted to do something different. Gregor was my preferred candidate right from the start… So far, we’re very, very satisfied with him.”"

Kobel has made a total of 24 appearances for Borussia Dortmund so far this season, keeping six clean sheets. And while the Black and Yellows have already conceded 40 goals across all competitions this season, those goals have more to do with defensive lapses than Kobel’s goalkeeping. Had it not been for Kobel’s excellent performances, Dortmund certainly wouldn’t have been second in the Bundesliga standings at the moment.

Despite Kobel’s impressive start to life at Borussia Dortmund, Kleinsteiber believes that he still has a lot of room for improvement.

"“I think the fans realized very quickly that he’s a really good goalkeeper. But he still has a lot of room for improvement, he can improve in all areas.”"

Kleinsteiber, who has been the first-team goalkeeping coach at Borussia Dortmund since 2017, also believes that Kobel is really good at handling pressure.

"“Gregor can handle the pressure, I’ve seen that with him. In Augsburg, he had real pressure on the kettle, as it was about staying in the Bundesliga, and also with Stuttgart as the next step, he didn’t have it easy.”"

Kobel has made an excellent impression on everyone since joining Borussia Dortmund in the summer. And fans will be hoping that he will be at the club for many years to come.